This paper proposes new algorithms for the assembly line balancing problem with hierarchical worker assignment (ALBHW). The ALBHW appears in real industrial contexts, where companies deal with a multi-skilled workforce. It considers task execution times that vary depending on the worker type to whom the task is assigned. Qualification levels among workers are ranked hierarchically, where a lower qualified worker costs less but requires larger execution times then a higher qualified one. The aim is to assign workers and tasks to the stations of an assembly line, in such a way that cycle time and precedence constraints are satisfied, and the total cost is minimised. In this paper, we first present a mathematical model and improve it with preprocessing techniques. Then, we propose a constructive heuristic and a variable neighbourhood descent that are useful to solve large instances. Extensive computational experiments on benchmark instances prove the effectiveness of the algorithms.

Mathematical models and heuristic methods for the assembly line balancing problem with hierarchical worker assignment / Campana, N. P.; Iori, M.; Moreira, M. C. O.. - In: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION RESEARCH. - ISSN 0020-7543. - 60:7(2021), pp. 2193-2211. [10.1080/00207543.2021.1884767]

Mathematical models and heuristic methods for the assembly line balancing problem with hierarchical worker assignment

Iori M.;
2021

Abstract

This paper proposes new algorithms for the assembly line balancing problem with hierarchical worker assignment (ALBHW). The ALBHW appears in real industrial contexts, where companies deal with a multi-skilled workforce. It considers task execution times that vary depending on the worker type to whom the task is assigned. Qualification levels among workers are ranked hierarchically, where a lower qualified worker costs less but requires larger execution times then a higher qualified one. The aim is to assign workers and tasks to the stations of an assembly line, in such a way that cycle time and precedence constraints are satisfied, and the total cost is minimised. In this paper, we first present a mathematical model and improve it with preprocessing techniques. Then, we propose a constructive heuristic and a variable neighbourhood descent that are useful to solve large instances. Extensive computational experiments on benchmark instances prove the effectiveness of the algorithms.
2021
17-mar-2021
60
7
2193
2211
Mathematical models and heuristic methods for the assembly line balancing problem with hierarchical worker assignment / Campana, N. P.; Iori, M.; Moreira, M. C. O.. - In: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION RESEARCH. - ISSN 0020-7543. - 60:7(2021), pp. 2193-2211. [10.1080/00207543.2021.1884767]
Campana, N. P.; Iori, M.; Moreira, M. C. O.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/1243418
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